Supreme Court strikes down Stolen Valor Act

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/06/ap-stolen-valor-act-struck-down-062812/ Supreme Court strikes down Stolen Valor By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer Posted : Thursday Jun 28, 2012 10:13:03 EDT The Supreme Court has struck down a federal law making it a crime to lie about having received the Medal of Honor and other prized military awards. The court voted 6-3 Thursday in favor of Xavier Alvarez, a former local elected official in California who falsely claimed he was a retired Marine who won the Medal of Honor. Alvarez had pleaded guilty to violating a 2006 law that was adopted with the nation at war in Afghanistan and Iraq and aimed at people making phony claims of heroism in battle. The court, in a judgment written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, ordered that his conviction be thrown out. Kennedy said the lies “were but a pathetic attempt to gain respect that eluded him.” ...